e-Bulletin for Parents - 24 February 2023

Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors – Undergraduate Programmes (including Top-up Degree Programmes)

The Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) will be expanded to subsidise a total of 1 310 places under 37 top-up degree programmes for the first time, in addition to 3 265 places under 47 first-year-first-degree programmes of eight post-secondary institutions (including Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Hong Kong Chu Hai College, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Tung Wah College, UOW College Hong Kong and Vocational Training Council - Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong) for the cohort to be admitted in the 2023/24 academic year. The programmes and number of subsidised places, which fall under ten disciplines with keen manpower demand, namely architecture and engineering, computer science, creative industries, financial technology, health care, insurance, logistics, sports and recreation, testing and certification, and tourism and hospitality, are determined by the Education Bureau in consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments.

In the 2023/24 academic year, the annual subsidy amounts for non-laboratory-based programmes and laboratory-based programmes are up to $44,950 and $78,280 respectively. The subsidy amounts are applicable to both new and continuing eligible students. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Subsidised students will pay a tuition fee with the subsidy applied. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.

Allocation of the subsidised first-year intake of the first-year-first-degree programmes will mainly go through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS); participating institutions are allowed to admit non-JUPAS local students via direct admission of no more than 20% of the subsidised places of each designated programme, and the non-JUPAS admission may take place in parallel with JUPAS admission. Non-JUPAS local applicants should refer to the relevant institutions’ websites for their admission arrangements including the commencement date and deadline of the application.

The subsidised places of the top-up degree programmes are allocated according to existing admission arrangements of the self-financing top-up degree programme, i.e. through direct admission by institutions.

For details of the SSSDP, please visit www.cspe.edu.hk/sssdp.